PREVIEW: National Rugby Championship, Round Six

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 08:42

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: All Black Brad Thorn will make his run on debut for Queensland Country this in Round Six when the Queenslanders play in the Country derby against the NSW Country Eagles in Toowoomba this Saturday.

The Eagles will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run in 2016 with head coach Darren Coleman making a sweeping nine changes to the side that defeated Perth last week.

The UC Vikings will be a looking for a crucial victory to maintain their position in the top four, with the men from Perth hot on their heels on the NRC ladder. The Western Sydney Rams travel south of the border to take on the Vikings after a confidence building win last weekend at Concord Oval.

Perth Spirit will be looking to build on their strong performances at home when they play Brisbane City and look to leapfrog into the top four.

The Sydney Rays will look to keep the pressure on ladder-leaders Country Eagles when they take on the Vikings.

The Vikings are looking to bounce back after a last-up defeat to the Rising and have made a number of changes to the side that lost the Horan-Little Shield last weekend. Ray Dobson, Dan Penca, Jake Rakic and Eli Sinoti have all been named to make their first starts when they play in Sydney.

The Spirit will again look to rampaging Wallabies loose forward, Ben McCalman who continues to find his form after a shoulder injury with his third week in a row of NRC action for Perth when they take on the defending champions.

Brisbane City will need to take maximum points from this match if they are to have any chance of making the top four. Former Australian Under-20s star, Brad Lacey has moved to the centres in the only change for the side.